Writing

1. SPEAKING Work in pairs. What is a penfriend? Think of three reasons why somebody might want a penfriend in a different country.

(Làm việc theo cặp. một người bạn bút là gì? Hãy nghĩ về ba lý do tại sao ai đó có thể muốn có một người bạn qua thư ở một quốc gia khác)

Answer:

A penfriend, also known as a pen pal, is a person with whom one regularly exchanges letters or emails, typically with someone from a different country or culture. It is a form of communication that fosters global connections and cultural exchange.

Here are three reasons why someone might want a penfriend in a different country:

1. Cultural exchange: Having a penfriend from a different country allows individuals to learn about different cultures and traditions, gain a broader perspective on the world, and develop an appreciation for diversity. By sharing experiences, customs, and beliefs, individuals can learn about different ways of life and expand their knowledge and understanding of the world.

2. Language practice: For individuals who are learning a new language, having a penfriend in a different country provides an opportunity to practice their language skills with a native speaker. This can help them improve their grammar, vocabulary, and fluency, as well as gain exposure to regional dialects and colloquialisms.

3. Friendship: Penfriends can also form meaningful friendships that transcend geographical boundaries. Writing letters or emails back and forth can create a strong bond between individuals, allowing them to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences with someone who understands and cares. This can be especially important for people who feel isolated or lonely, as having a penfriend can provide a sense of connection and companionship.

2. Read the advertisement from a website for international penfriends above. What information does Adam ask for?

(Đọc quảng cáo từ một trang web dành cho bạn bè quốc tế ở trên. Adam yêu cầu thông tin gì?)

Hi! My name is Adam. I'm sixteen years old and I live in Newcastle in the UK. I'm looking for a penfriend from any country in the world. Send me a message and tell me about yourself and your family. Also, could you please tell me why you are looking for a penfriend? Thanks - and I hope to hear from you soon!

Click here to reply to Adam

Answer:

Adam asks for the following information:

• Information about the person: Adam asks the person to tell him about themselves and their family.

• Reason for looking for a penfriend: Adam also requests that the person tells him why they are looking for a penfriend.

3. Read the task and the message below. Does Vinh provide all of the information that Adam asks for? What does Vinh ask for more information about?

(Đọc nhiệm vụ và thông báo dưới đây. Vinh có cung cấp đầy đủ thông tin mà Adam yêu cầu không? Vinh hỏi thêm thông tin về cái gì?)

You have seen this advertisement on a website for international penfriends. Write a message in reply and provide the information Adam asks for. Include a request for information in your message.

Hi! My name’s Vinh and I'm from Viet Nam. I'm fifteen years old and live in Ho Chi Minh City with my parents and my younger sister. I'm into football, and my sister's mad about pop music.

I'd like to have an English penfriend because I'm studying English at school and would like to visit England one day. Would you mind telling me more about Newcastle? I know it's got a famous football team, but that’s all! Do you enjoy living there?

Answer:

Vinh provides some of the information that Adam asks for. He tells Adam about himself and his family, and also mentions that he is looking for an English penfriend to improve his English skills.

However, Vinh does not explicitly state why he is looking for a penfriend, which is one of the pieces of information that Adam requests.

Additionally, Vinh asks for more information about Newcastle, specifically if Adam enjoys living there.

4. KEY PHRASES Look at the polite requests. Which one does Adam use in his advertisement? Which one does Vinh use in his message?

(Nhìn vào các yêu cầu lịch sự. Cái nào Adam sử dụng trong quảng cáo của mình? Cái nào Vinh sử dụng trong tin nhắn của mình?)

Polite requests

Would it be possible for you to ... ?

Could you please ...?. Would you mind if ... ?

Would you mind (+ -ing form)? I wonder if...

Answer:

Adam uses the polite request "could you please" in his advertisement, when he asks "could you please tell me why you are looking for a penfriend?"

Vinh also uses the polite request "would you mind" in his message, when he asks "Would you mind telling me more about Newcastle?"

5. SPEAKING Work in pairs. Request the following information from your partner. Use different phrases from exercise 4 and verbs like tell, explain, describe, etc.

(Yêu cầu thông tin sau từ đối tác của bạn. Sử dụng các cụm từ khác nhau từ bài tập 4 và các động từ như kể, giải thích, mô tả, v.v)

date of birth

ideal day out

taste in music

Answer:

1. Excuse me, could you tell me your date of birth?

2. Can you explain what would be your ideal day out?

3. I wonder if you could describe your taste in music?

4. Can you tell me your date of birth, please?

5. Would you mind describing your ideal day out to me?

6. Could you explain your taste in music to me? What kind of music do you enjoy listening to the most?

6. Read the Writing Strategy. Then look at the message in exercise 3 again. Does Vinh develop the points or does he just write a single sentence for each one?

(Đọc Chiến lược viết. Sau đó nhìn lại thông báo trong bài tập 3. Vinh có phát triển các ý không hay anh ấy chỉ viết một câu cho mỗi ý?)

Writing Strategy

Make sure that you

a) include all of the points in the task and

b) develop each point, that is, add some extra information or detail.

Try not to write just one sentence for each point.

Answer:

Vinh provides some extra information about himself and his family, and he also asks for more information about Newcastle. However, he does not develop each point in great detail. He only writes a few sentences for each point. Therefore, he could improve his message by adding more details about his interests and hobbies, his family, and why he is interested in learning about England and making a new friend there.

7. Match sentences 1-5 with sentences a—e. Think of other ways that extra detail or information could be added to sentences 1-5.

(Nối câu 1-5 với câu a—e. Hãy nghĩ ra những cách khác để thêm chi tiết hoặc thông tin vào câu 1-5)

1. I go to Harford Community College.

2. I've got two brothers.

3. We moved to a house outside town last month.

4. My name's Huy and I’m seventeen years old.

5. Would you mind if I visited you in August?

a. I live in Ninh Binh with my parents and my sister.

b. I'm doing my A-levels.

c. We needed more space.

d. I'd really like to meet you and your family.

e. One is older than me and one is younger.

Answer:

1. I go to Harford Community College - b. I'm doing my A-levels.

2. I've got two brothers - e. One is older than me and one is younger.

3. We moved to a house outside town last month - c. We needed more space.

4. My name's Huy and I’m seventeen years old - a. I live in Ninh Binh with my parents and my sister.

5. Would you mind if | visited you in August? - d. I'd really like to meet you and your family.

Additional details for each sentence:

1. I go to Harford Community College, which is a small college in Maryland that offers a wide range of courses and extracurricular activities.

2. I've got two brothers, one is studying abroad and the other is currently in the military.

3. We moved to a house outside town last month. It's a beautiful, spacious house with a big garden and a lovely view of the countryside.

4. My name's Huy and I'm seventeen years old. I'm interested in science and technology and I hope to study engineering at university.

5. Would you mind if I visited you in August? I'm planning a trip to Europe and I would love to include a visit to your city in my itinerary. Let me know if it's possible and if there are any places you recommend me to visit.

8. You are going to do the task in exercise 3. Plan your message, using the prompts below to help you. Think about how you can add extra details.

(Bạn sẽ thực hiện nhiệm vụ trong bài tập 3. Lập kế hoạch cho thông điệp của bạn, sử dụng các gợi ý bên dưới để giúp bạn. Hãy suy nghĩ về cách bạn có thể thêm các chi tiết bổ sung)

* Describe yourself and your family.

* Explain your reason for wanting a penfriend.

* Request information from Adam.

Answer:

Plan for the message:

Introduction:

• Hi, my name is [your name].

• I am from [your country/city].

• Describe yourself and your family.

Body:

• Explain your reason for wanting a penfriend.

• Mention your interest in their country/city.

• Request information from Adam.

Conclusion:

• Thank them for reading your message.

• Say goodbye and sign off.

Sample message:

Hi Adam,

My name is Anh and I'm from Hanoi, Vietnam. I'm 16 years old and I live with my parents and younger brother. My father is a doctor and my mother is a teacher. We all love to travel and explore new places.

I'm interested in finding an English penfriend to improve my language skills and learn more about English culture. I'm fascinated by the history and traditions of the UK, and I'd love to visit someday. I noticed in your ad that you live in Newcastle, which sounds like a great city! Could you please tell me more about the famous landmarks and tourist attractions? Also, do you have any recommendations for traditional English food that I could try?

Thank you for your time, and I hope to hear from you soon!

Best regards, Anh.

9. Write your message (70-80 words) using your plan from exercise 8.

(Viết tin nhắn của bạn (70-80 từ) sử dụng kế hoạch của bạn từ bài tập 8)

CHECK YOUR WORK

Have you...

* referred to and developed each point in the task?

* used a phrase from exercise 4 to request information?

* checked the spelling and grammar?

Answer:

Hi Adam,

My name is Minh and I'm from Hanoi, Vietnam. I come from a big family with four sisters and one brother. My parents own a small restaurant in the city center where we live. I am interested in learning about different cultures and practicing my English, which is why I am looking for a penfriend. Can you tell me more about your hobbies and interests? I would also love to know what the best places to visit in your town are.

Best regards,

Minh